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chithanh119
Just Starting
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: Currency question |
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| I am planning to travel to Russia this summer. I have heard various stories on what currency to use. Some say euros, others say dollars, others say rubles. I am a bit confused about what exactly I will need. What is your advise? |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Currency question |
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| chithanh119 wrote: | | I am planning to travel to Russia this summer. I have heard various stories on what currency to use. Some say euros, others say dollars, others say rubles. I am a bit confused about what exactly I will need. What is your advise? |
Ruble is the only currency officially allowed. You can bring dollars or euro with you, however you will need to exchange them to roubles before you can pay for something (service or goods). |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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If you bring dollars (to exchange for rubles), the notes must be in very good condition, or the currency exchanges will not accept them.
* $100 or $50 notes are preferred.
* There must be no markings added to the notes (say, something written on them). The most common kind of markings are "stamps" made by banks themselves, very official looking, and sometimes very small (2 or 3 mm). Look carefully at your notes, because any markings at all will make them practically useless in Russia.
* The paper cannot be torn, however slightly.
* The paper cannot be creased from having been folded tightly. Again, look carefully: lots of otherwise nice-looking notes have creases.
* The notes cannot be stained, or faded from wear.
Because of the strictness of Russian currency exchanges, I spend several hours before each trip going to various bank branches, to find enough acceptable notes.
I don't know whether Russian currency exchanges are equally strict about Euro notes - if I were bringing Euros, I would take the same care, in order to be on the safe side. |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I hate our banks for the idiotic attitude about quality of USD. The only bank that accepts dollars of almost any quality is Sberbank. However its exchange rates are usually average. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| I've never had problems exchanging euros, but I confirm that some banks can be very stupid, as described above, about dollar bills, especially in smaller cities. Use ATMs and you'll be fine. |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: |
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| The main problem with ATMs is that they don't tell you what is the exchange rate before operation. Some of them love to apply fees for the conversion operation or for using the ATM and ATMs not always forewarn client about it. I call most of russian banks "говнобанки" (lit: shitbanks). |
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